Preview: Watford vs. Aston Villa - prediction, team news, lineups

A challenging assignment awaits Watford during their first game back in the Premier League, with Dean Smith's new-look Aston Villa side paying a visit to Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon.

The Hornets' haul of 91 points saw them achieve automatic promotion back to the big time, whereas Villa ultimately fell short in their pursuit of European football.

Match preview

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Xisco Munoz could hardly have envisaged the dream start to life he has enjoyed in the Vicarage Road dugout, with his opening game - a Boxing Day success over eventual winners Norwich City - setting his side up for a magical six months in the Championship.

There were a few blips along the way - namely defeats to Luton Town and Brentford, as well as dropping two points at Middlesbrough - but Xisco steered Watford back into the top flight at the first time of asking following their devastating relegation in the 2019-20 season.

An array of talented players in Imran Louza, Joshua King, Emmanuel Dennis and Juraj Kucka have arrived at Vicarage Road as Watford bid to become an established Premier League outfit, but recent pre-season results have not led to a greater sense of optimism.

The Hornets saw off Millwall, Doncaster Rovers and Colchester United twice in pre-season but fell to defeat against three Premier League outfits in Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Brentford, as well as being held to a goalless draw by West Bromwich Albion.

However, as the Premier League prepares to open its doors to capacity crowds once more, Watford will aim to build on a stellar run of form which saw them win each of their last nine home games in last season's Championship, scoring 22 goals and conceding a mere two in that hot streak.

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As ambitious as Aston Villa's owners are, the signings of Emiliano Buendia, Danny Ings and Leon Bailey hinted that the club were preparing for the inevitable departure of Jack Grealish, who now holds the accolade of being the most expensive British player in history.

Explained in great detail by Aston Villa CEO Christian Purslow on social media, Manchester City triggered the £100m release clause in Grealish's contract - one which he only signed last year - but Villa's swift movements in the transfer market have demonstrated their desire to push for Europe without their now-departed talisman.

Grealish's absence through injury was heavily felt for an Aston Villa side seeking a top-seven finish last season, as a dismal record of four wins from their last 14 games saw them languish to an 11th-placed finish after they were hovering around the European places at Christmas time.

The Villans have not faced any true tests of their mettle in pre-season - although a 2-0 defeat to Stoke City did raise some question marks - as Walsall, Crewe Alexandra, Bristol City and Italian outfit Salernitana all succumbed to defeats against Smith's men, with new arrival Ings netting against the latter.

Watford and Villa have never met on the opening day of the season before, and the last two meetings at Vicarage Road have seen the Hornets run out 3-2 and 3-0 winners, although Villa won 2-1 in the most recent encounter back in January 2020.

Team News

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Watford kick off the new Premier League season with very few concerns on the injury front, as Domingos Quina (thigh) may not be ready for action just yet, while midfielder Will Hughes has been banished to Under-23s training amid a tense contract stand-off.

Kucka made an immediate appearance for the Hornets in their friendly defeat to Crystal Palace, but competition for places in the Hornets midfield is rife as Louza, Peter Etebo and Tom Cleverley all seek starting roles.

Troy Deeney is three strikes off hitting the 50-goal mark in the Premier League, but the 33-year-old has his work cut out to rival Cucho Hernandez for a starting position.

However, the Hornets have since announced that Josh King and Joao Pedro will miss out through injury, while Nathaniel Chalobah is ill.

Meanwhile, Villa's new frontman Ings should get the nod up top for the opener after Ollie Watkins suffered a bruised knee against Salernitana, although Smith supposedly expects him to shake off the issue in time for Saturday.

Smith has also ruled out the possibility of Watkins featuring out wide, where new arrivals Leon Bailey and Buendia will be available despite previous concerns over their chances of playing.

Morgan Sanson and Olympic gold medallist Douglas Luiz are also expected to miss the opening day, with attacking injury concerns potentially leading Smith to welcome former Hornet Ashley Young back to the team on the left flank.

Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Rose; Etebo, Cleverley, Louza; Sarr, Hernandez, Dennis

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Nakamba; Buendia, J. Ramsey, Bailey; Ings

We say: Watford 2-2 Aston Villa

Aston Villa's plethora of absentees makes it difficult to back a win for the visitors - in spite of their impressive haul of new players - and it remains to be seen how their big-money signings will gel on the field.

Watford's remarkable home record propelled them to a second-placed finish last term, and with Xisco also welcoming some new attackers to his ranks, we can envisage an entertaining opening-day draw at Vicarage Road.